<p>There's definitely a lot of hesitation on this site about PMing your essay for someone to read it, and while I think all the fears of people stealing your essay (or borrowing from it, whatever you may want to call it) is perfectly legitimate, some of us do still want people reading our essays on here anyways. Yes, we could have other people we actually know read them, but doesn't that defeat the purpose of really testing out a college essay? Adcoms don't know you--your essay should help them understand you better as a person. It's different to have a friend like and understand your essay than it is to have a stranger offer feedback on it.</p>
<p>Still, there are definitely warning signs you shouldn't miss when you send your essay out. The main one I've seen is sending an essay to someone who offers to critique it, and having that person never send a PM back. And, if people can tag those members who do avoid responding, I really think that'd benefit everyone here.</p>
<p>And, while I know that it's a bit harsh to go posting names up of people who are suspect essay stealers/borrowers, I also think it's fair. Someone who says "I'd love to help!' when you ask for readers and proceeds to not respond--only for you to see them offering to read someone else's essay on a thread the day after you send them yours--deserves to be marked, and people deserve to be warned. You don't have to post names up here if you don't want to, either, but I think this could be a useful resource for people.</p>
<p>Also, make sure you're not just saying someone's username after waiting a day or two and when you don't feel reasonably certain that the person has been online since you sent them your essay.</p>
<p>If you think of any other warning signs for essay "stealers," or have any other advice for people seeking essay help on this forum, it might help to post that here as well. :-)</p>
<p>i personally would avoid anyone currently in the application process and try to find someone who is currently in college or something of the like</p>
<p>but then again i would never pm my essay to anyone on CC. this is what english teachers are for, people!</p>
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Essay thieves? Isn't there an option to report these individuals to the CC admins? Or do they not have any jurisdiction on this matter?
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<p>You know they'd just create a second account anyway.</p>
<p>Maybe a better idea would be to have a running list of parents and non-college-applicants who are trustworthy and willing to read college essays. Of course they'd have to put themselves on the list.</p>
<p>But having someone put themself on a list is fishy itself....you know? Besides how do you know these people actually are parents adn in non-applicants</p>
<p>The list could be moderated, with people PMing a certain established member ("established" meaning >1500 posts) if they want to be on the list, and said member could approve all names privately and post the list later. Usually if they post on the Parents forum and make frequent references to "my DD", etc., they're pretty safe.</p>
<p>Or the thread listing all the people could be posted in the Parents forum. (which is less reliable but may result in more parents reading it). Maybe everyone who responds can post their status (student, parent, etc.) and their post count along with their name.</p>
<p>I don't think post count is necessarily the sure-fire way to know who's trustworthy to read your essays, though... I mean, I'm a new member only because I never found this site before, and I've been very good about responding promptly with feedback to whoever sends me their essays, whereas a few of the members I've sent my essays to who have a far greater post count than myself have yet to respond with any feedback.</p>
<p>I really think any list should be one of people to "watch out for," if anything. Like, if you send someone your essay and they don't respond, you mention them. That way, people would be scared out of reading-without-responding for fear of getting themselves on "the list."</p>
<p>I definitely agree with this. I tried to start the "good list" a little while down, but it didn't really catch on. I think that if somebody responds to your essay with good feedback within a day or two, you can put their name on the "good list." </p>
<p>Also, especially for RD apps that are due in the next couple of days, it's hard to have anybody else read your essay because everyone's on vacation. I don't know about everyone else, but my little sister is too young to understand anything in a college essay, my friends all know me too well, and my parents don't understand the merits of a good essay (as in also they don't speak English perfectly) to be of much assistance. As much as I hesitate to send my essays to perfect strangers, I find myself without much of a choice. However, I am SUPREMELY paranoid about sending my essays to anybody and hate that, since I know that there are many trustworthy people on CC who would never dream of stealing an essay or idea. </p>
<p>We just need to figure out how to separate the ones who are helpful from the ones who are harmful, and if we can't, then I guess everyone just has to play a game of chance when sending their essays.</p>
<p>Please don't post the names of people whom you feel it would be unwise to send essays to because such posts would be considered flaming, which is against CC's rules. Before sharing one's essays, it would be very wise to read over the cautionary threads about that practice.</p>